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8.29.2016

Imagine a world where Bohemian and Luxury are conjoined into one delicious style story. I am quite aware the two lifestyles are often sequestered to opposite ends of the fashion spectrum. Bohemian conjures thoughts of the free spirited, artistic expression, bargain hunting for a one-of-a- kind vintage treasure, or taking what's forgotten and tattered and reinventing it into something hip and new. A far cry from Luxury, it's more pretentious counterpart, which reminds us of sumptuous fabrics, shine, expense, and high living. Yet and still, the two can unite to form a happy union...one void of highfalutin, but captures an artful elegance, and an undeniable ease and sophistication.

Welcome to Destination Chico's
- a six month journey designed to introduce you to my favorite Chico's
looks, and to inspire you to indulge further into exploration of the
boutique.

What may seem like an oxymoron, with the mix of the right elements, making a Boho Lux fashion statement is quite easy to achieve. The base of today's look is a rich black peasant maxi dress - a dress so perfect for this post, it screams bohemian luxury. Made of a casual jersey fabrication, the dress gives a gentle nod to the spirit of Bohemia, with it's flirtatious shoulder baring design, it still lends to eloquence with its move and drape. Combined with uptown accessories in black and high gloss gold, and tassel heeled sandals as well, this look cleverly combines both the bohemian and luxury lifestyles into one - a look that says, "I am bohemian, but the high life doesn't escape me."

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Chico's. I
received compensation in exchange for sharing with my blog public. Although this post is a partnership, all opinions are my own.

A trio of rings in silver and gold worn on the thumbs in true bohemian style.

Tweetable -->When your fashion sense encompasses a couple personalities, subtle touches of each can make for an interesting style story. Boho Lux can take you to a variety of important events...to religious
services, dinner, a night on the town, or a fundraising event. The two styles brings comfort and the right amount of elegance. When you enter the room, you'll come across as free spirited, while having an air of wealthy worldliness {wink}

Speaking of fundraising events, as many of you know, I have been volunteering my time with a very worthwhile organization called Dress for Success. The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to
achieve economic independence by providing a network of support,
professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in
work and in life. I am delighted to be a part of this phenomenal cause, and on September 18th, Chico's, along with myself, will be hosting the Fall Fashion Premier! Volunteering for the organization and the fundraiser transpired because of my willingness to say, Yes, and to make strives in making my dreams, and the dreams of others, come true. To attend this event, or to donate to Dress for Success (Riverside), please visit the link here --> Dress for Success Riverside.

Stay True,

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8.20.2016

When I pulled today's outfit together, the pieces immediately reminded me of the classic nursery rhyme - The Farmer in the Dell. Since the purpose of this post is to show how you can update classics, I thought a spin on the classic rhyme would be absolutely perfect for the post's title.

I do consider myself somewhat of a classic dresser. I love having pieces in my wardrobe that stand the test of time - Levi's 501; penny loafers, t-shirts, pea coats, overalls...you get the point. But lets face it, head-to-toe classic can sometimes look dull. In order for me to stay true to myself, and the often quirky approach I take in dressing, it is important for me to add items to my wardrobe that glean from the classics but still have finesse. Before I move into today's look, allow me to direct you to one of my past post which shows a variation on a classic penny loafer. In a post called Inspired By: Being Dapper, I'm wearing a pair of black and white spectator G.H. Bass Weejuns...but notice the details on them.

Classics bring to the table a rich history, and are what traditions are founded on. I would never disregard their legacy. However, for today, imagine if you would, the idea of taking vanilla ice cream and jazzing it up by swirling in dulce de leche or chocolate fudge. The vanilla is still the mainstay, but now more flavor flava is added to entice you. I hope you enjoy the pictures, and I'll meet you below in the comment section.

I feel classic but never boring in my pair of overalls. Not your basic pair, rather they have extracted pieces from the traditional farmer
dungarees. This pair is skinny, modern with the feathering detail, and a wee-bit sassy. Paired with my updated
farmers is a beyond basic black tee that has captured my heart with delightful bell sleeves - definitely classic with a wink. Dressed in my farmers (overalls) and bell-sleeved tee, I came up with the title - The Farmer in the Bell.

This is what I propose - If you're a traditional, classic dresser, but you're presently rethinking how you can add spice to your wardrobe; you can still wear the foundation pieces, but amp them up by intertwining garments or accessories that send a message of adventure, spontaneity or fun. Here's a fact about the classics - It's quite easy to up-level them into the fashion statement stratosphere. Often times, just one subtle twist can add a world of difference to a very basic look {wink}

Stay True,

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8.18.2016

Welcome to the new and improved So What to Twenty! If you're viewing the blog from your desktop, you'll notice the makeover. There is now a right and left sidebar. On the left you'll notice a new feature called The Fashion Forefront - News. Here you'll find breaking news on the fashion industry, direct from fashion insiders! Also, you'll notice a new page called A Heart that Gives. This page is reserved for the different causes I support. I'm very excited about these two features, and I hope you feel the same.

Now, on to today's post. As you know, I now hold a monthly Style column on Midlife Boulevard! Each month I'll post a teaser (like this one) which will take you directly to the post. I'm thrilled with my adventures as a writer, and I hope you'll all join me on this exciting, new journey.

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We know the act of making love begins far before the couple
enters the bedroom. The two engage in an enticing tangle that includes sensual
conversation, the receiving of surprise love notes, the whispering of sweet
nothings, delicate kisses placed on the nape of the neck. The manner in which we
set the mood for our romantic interludes, likewise feeling sexy in our clothing
should begin with the same seduction. This can be achieved when you master the
art of Fashion Foreplay. Meet me on the corner of True Style Ave and Midlife Blvd to learn How to Master the Art of Fashion Foreplay.

8.14.2016

After a very important breakfast/business meeting with motivational speaker, three time cancer survivor, and founder of The Lighthearted Life, Dianne Callahan, she and I sat under a shade tree, where she shared with me an astounding idea she heard on youthful aging. The concept is based on an idea that suggest women, as well as men, can experience a type of reverse aging - this is when a person so grounded in their self and purpose; so open to spirit; so keyed into their energy and vibration; can experience a level of cellular renewal that shows in their energy level, their physical being, and the way they look as well.

It makes sense. Right? Without having these details of our lives deeply rooted into place, one is sure to experience various levels of stress, and we all know stress is the biggest contributing factor to rapid aging. Using myself as an example, a few years ago, before I tapped into my true value, I felt old physically, as well as spiritually. However recently, on my post called Baby Soft, I received a super kind comment from fellow blogger, and owner of Finder Not Keeper, Mithra Ballesteros, which stated,"You are getting younger with each post! Who could guess your babies are men!" I don't believe Mithra believes I have access to some sort of age reverse time machine, nor do I believe the concept is suggesting this either. Perhaps the word which we search for is Vibrant - People with this uncanny youthfulness have tapped into an energy that surpasses the definition of Age, and what a particular age is suppose to represent.

I've said it once and I'll say it again - Being the age of 50, I haven't felt better in decades. This observation isn't solely about my physicality, but my spirituality and emotional makeup as well. I feel deeply grounded with my self and my purpose. Perhaps this is what Mithra has noticed. So for today, I wear a color that radiates the warmth of the sunshine, is vibrant, rejuvenating, and signifies energy and optimism. I hope you enjoy the pictures and I'll meet you below in the comment section.

In recent years I have grown more attracted to the bold hue of orange. Not for the faint of heart, this color truly represents the spirit of the extrovert - which I am not. I gain my energy from my times alone and in solitude. But for this occasion, I find myself drawn to this dynamic and powerful shade. Draped in a breezy dress of linen, I feel surprisingly relaxed yet invigorated at the same time. To enhance the spirit of the dress, I chose to pair it with my favorite colorful and playful sandals - a look that tells a story about my vibrancy as well as my laid-back idea of getting dressed.

8.07.2016

When my sons were babies, I loved the time spent getting them ready for beddy-bye - scenting their warm bath with organic lavender bubble bath, patting them dry and then massaging them with natural coconut oil. I marveled at their perfect, virgin, baby soft skin. While tucked into bed, the natural scent of lavender filled the room. I couldn't help but snuggle with them while reading their favorite bedtime stories. The night always concluded with me giving them gentle pats on the bottom until they drifted off to sleep.

As I matured, I found it necessary to adopt the tender loving care I bestowed onto my children. Though it isn't necessary to pat my bottom to get me to fall asleep, I do have an affinity towards nature derived products. I have discovered, the more I avoid chemically laced products in favor of God-made ingredients, the more my epidermis approves. Since I made the decision to go Au naturale with my care, my skin has developed a natural glow which I absolutely adore. Today's post is more about my skincare rather than the fashion, but please, enjoy the pics and I'll meet you below in the comment section.

To highlight my skin and to piggy-back off the story of my infant sons, I selected a baby doll top in baby blue that accentuates my
arms and shoulders. For this post, my skin is without makeup and has a
dewy glow thanks to Brown & Coconut Hydrating Body Butter (more
information below).

The scent from both of these products remind me of a luxurious spa in a jar...clean and herbal. At first I was concerned about applying face oil to my combination skin, however, after reading all the reports on the positive affects, I decided to give it a try. I'm pleasantly surprised. It's not greasy and leaves my skin feeling silky soft.

Since California is prone to dry heat, I carry this mist of essential oils and flower extracts in my handbag to hydrate my skin throughout the day, or to even spritz in my hair! The scent is light and reminds me of love.

I hope you enjoyed today's post - a slight diversion from the weekly style story, but nonetheless, I hope you found the information useful and inspiring. I'm of the mindset that good, clean skincare and eating will keep skin radiant, smooth, and oh so baby soft. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask{wink}

Stay True,

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